P. R. Sreejesh

Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh is an Indian professional field hockey player who plays as a goalkeeper and former captain of the Indian national team.[1] In the Hockey India League, he plays for Uttar Pradesh Wizards.

P. R. Sreejesh

Sreejesh (left) receiving the Arjuna Award from President Pranab Mukherjee (right), 2015
Personal information
Full name	Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh
Born	(1988-05-08) 8 May 1988 Kochi, Kerala, India
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in) (2016)
Weight	80 kg (176 lb) (2016)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Senior career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2011	Chandigarh Comets	17	(0)
2011–2013	Indian Overseas Bank	32	(0)
2013–2014	Mumbai Magicians	12	(0)
2015–present	Uttar Pradesh Wizards	33	(0)
National team
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–	India	208	(0)
Medal record Men's field hockey Asian Games 2014 Incheon Team 2018 Jakarta Team Asia Cup 2013 Ipoh Champions Trophy 2016 London 2018 Breda Asian Champions Trophy 2011 Ordos City 2016 Kuantan 2018 Muscat 2012 Doha World League 2014–15 Raipur Team Commonwealth Games 2014 Glasgow Team

Early life

Sreejesh was born 8 May 1988, in Kizhakkambalam village, in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, to P. V. Raveendran and Usha, a family of farmers. He completed his primary education in St. Antony's Lower Primary School in Kizhakkambalam and he studied until sixth standard in St. Joseph High School in Kizhakkambalam. As a kid, he trained as a sprinter, before moving on to long jump and volleyball. At 12, he joined the GV Raja Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram. This was where his coach suggested that he take up goalkeeping.[2][3] He became a professional after he was picked by hockey coach Jayakumar at the school, following which he played at the school before playing at the Nehru Cup.[4] He completed his graduation in History from Sree Narayana College, Kollam, Kerala.[5]

In 2017, Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri for his work in the field of sports.[6][7]

Career

International career

Sreejesh made the Junior national team in 2004, in a match against Australia in Perth, in 2004. He made his debut in the senior national team in 2006, at the South Asian Games in Colombo.[3] Following India's win at the 2008 Junior Asia Cup, he was awarded the 'Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament'.[8] Having been a part of the Indian team for six years, though often losing his place to senior goalkeepers, Adrian D'Souza and Bharat Chettri,[9] he has been a regular member since 2011, after saving two penalty stroke in the Asian Champions Trophy Final in Ordos City, China, against Pakistan, a match-winning performance.[2] His second 'Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament' award came at the 2013 Asia Cup, with India finishing second in the tournament. He was a part of the team that won silver medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Sreejesh had earlier played for India at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and then World Cup in 2014. At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, he starred in Indian's gold medal win, when he saved two penalty strokes against Pakistan in the final.[10] At the 2014 Champions Trophy and 2018 Champions Trophy, he was adjudged "Goalkeeper of the Tournament".[11] Following impressive performances in 2014, he was nominated for the award of Best Male Goalkeeper; he eventually lost to Jaap Stockmann of the Netherlands.[12] He was the captain of the team that won the silver medal at the 2016 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy held at London.

On 13 Jul 2016, Sreejesh was given the responsibilities of the Captain of the Indian hockey team, taking over from Sardar Singh.

At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Sreejesh led the Indian hockey team to the quarterfinals of the tournament .[13]

Club career

At the auction of the inaugural season of the Hockey India League, Sreejesh was bought by the Mumbai franchise for US$38,000. He played two seasons for their team, Mumbai Magicians.[14] In 2014, he was bought by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for US$69,000 and since the 2015 season, has been playing for them.[15]

Personal life

Sreejesh is married to Aneeshya, a former long jumper and an Ayurveda doctor. They have a daughter (b. 2014) Anusree.[16] His son, Sreeansh was born in 2017. He is currently employed as Chief Sports Organiser with the Kerala government's education department .

References

1. "Hockey vice-captain Sreejesh Ravindran believes change of format will help India". india.com. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
2. "SHOT stopper". The Hindu. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
3. "Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh gets married to former long jumper Alisha". sportskeeda.com. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
4. "Goalie extraordinaire". The Hindu. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
5. "Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh profile". incheon2014ag.org. Archived from the original on 29 September 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
6. "Padma Awards 2017 announced". pib.gov.in.
7. "List of Padma awardees 2017". The Hindu. 25 January 2017.
8. "Diwakar Ram in the spotlight". Sportstar. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
9. "The solitary keeper". Indian Express. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
10. "Asian Games: India beat Pakistan to clinch gold, qualify for Rio Olympics". Deccan Chronicle. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
11. "PR Sreejesh Hopes to Live up to Expectations in Hockey India League 2015". NDTV. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
12. "FIH announce the winners of the FIH 2014 Player of the Year". fih.ch. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
13. "Hockey India removes Sardar Singh as captain, Sreejesh to lead at Rio Olympics". "The Hindu". 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
14. "Hockey India League will boost Indian hockey: Sreejesh". The New Indian Express. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
15. "Sreejesh hopes to live up to expectations in Hockey India League". The Times of India. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
16. "Indian hockey goalkeeper Sreejesh blessed with a baby girl". suhridsports.blogspot.in. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.

External links

• Sreejesh Ravindran at Hockey India
• P. R. Sreejesh at the International Hockey Federation